Refrigerator construction



Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNiTED 4sierras ALBERT CH. MORRELL'OF CLINTON, IOWA nnrmennamon consrnncrron Application led December f This invention relates to refrigerator con- I struction and more especially' to aconstruc- Ation having particular utility in relatively small or portable refrigerators for domestic ilse. u j

The use-of ordinary wood Wall construction i' n devices of this sort has many disadvantages. It is not a satisfactory heat insulator and the heat transmission which it permits, decreases the elliciency of the refrigerator. These wood wall constructions, as heretofore employed, are not durable and they are subject to moisture getting into and opening the joints. They are hygroscopic and subject to warping and getting out ofsl1ape. The metal linings usually employed therewith are heat conductors rather than insulators and are subject .to corrosion and rusting and their life is relatively short. F urthermore,these struc tures are not hermetically'sealed. The outside nishing quickly wears oli and because of the warping and gettingout of shape which occurs,'the doors in time fail to close properly,

which still further decreases the eiiciency.

vantages, various constructions have been lprovided, but the increased cost, weight and ulkiness,`has usually olset the other advantages attained.

3 In constructio sin which the Walls are provided withilli gs of insulation such as ground cork or the like, the cost is higher and*l the insulating medium is not employed structurally, nor does it in any way strengthen the structure of the refrigerator. -Light shells are easily damaged and metal has the disadvantages already referred to. i

It is the object of my present invention to provide a generally improved, simplified, compact and inexpensive construction that will better serve the purpose' for which intended, more particularly a better insulated, more sanitary and more durable construction of better appearance, a less expensive, h ermetically sealed, waterproof constructlon having great strength and rigidity, and a construction which will not warp or-get out of shape and in which the` doors will always lit properly. 5 To these ends, I provide for making up the In endeavoring to`.overcome these disad 7, 1925. Serial No. 73,583.

Walls of the refrigerator of a solid homogeneous construction composedpreferably of several thicknesses ofsuitable insulating fiber board, with the'layers preferably lying one outside the other from the inside to the out? side of the wall and bound or bondedto# gether by a cementitious binder impervious to water. `The insulatin material forms the A structural part of the re rigerator, providing a selflsupporting homogeneous wallconstruc-A tion in which packed spaces, lioll'o'w formations and metal withits conductivity may be entirely eliminated. v

The outside may be covered with a waterproof nonmetallic coating for finishing and 05 lhermetically sealing the exterior, and the inside may be lined with a waterproof nonmetallic coating for finishing and hermetically sealing the interior. These coatings preferably impart the desired wearing qualities 70 and the outside coating is adapted to providea permanent finish of any suitable color.

In my co-pending ap lication, Serial No. 73,584, liled December 1925, I have disclosed an improved unitary refrigerating unit and a refrigerator construction adaptedto receive the same. The present invention is particularly adapted for embodiment in the refrigerator construction disclosed in that ap-` lication and shall be disclosed hereinas emodiedin that construction, although it is, of course, not limited thereto. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a re- 85 frigerator embodying the present invention; v f

- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a Vertical section taken onthe linev 3 3 of' Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section 90' through one of the upper'corners of the refrigerator;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section through the doorV and adjacent jamb on thek line 5-5 of Fig; 1; and 9 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation withthe outside coating partially removed ,to sh'ow the tension and binding means between the exterior of-'the insulating Wall and the outloo side coating.

Referring to the drawings, the refrigerator shown comprises a boX portion supported by suitable legs 6. The device shown is of the portable household or domestic type and it has a suitable access door 8 hinged at r A extending vsubstantially the entire length of 9 and provided with a suitable latch 10. The

box portion 5 comprises a rear wall 12, side walls 13 and top and bottom walls 14 and 15, respectively. These details may, of course, all be varied within. the scope of the present invention.

In making up the side walls 13, I employ several layers 16 of insulating board. The insulating board is preferably of pre-4 pared insulating material such as artificialboarded bagasse, cane. fiber or the like.

l Iliisulating board of this sort when built up as will be hereinafter disclosed, has. great strength and rigidity. It is easily handled, cut and fastened together and this facilitates construction. Furthermore, it is durable,

relatively light in weight and relatively inexpensive, and it will not warp or get out of shape. l

The layers 16 are secured together by a suitable binder 18. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, I employ casein glue or cement which is waterproof and has the desired bonding qualities, but again it is to be understood that any viscous cementitious material impervious to water might be employed. Waterproof binding layers are thus i interposed between the layers ofinsulation and a solid homogeneous structure` is provided.

The upper ends of the side walls 13 are rabbeted at 20 and the rear wall V12 may be of similar construction and rabbeted at 21. The rabbeting 2O and 21 receives the top wall 14 which lis shown as being of a width less than the width of the refrigerator. The rabbeted or lap joints between the top and side and the top and rear walls which may be rabbeted similar to the side walls, are secured together by a suitable binder, preferably casein glue or cement, or any other suitable viscous cementitious` waterproof material.

The rear ends or edges of the side walls 13 may be similarl joined to the opposite ends of the rear wal 14 by similar lap or rabbet joints and cementitious Water proof binding` material.

he bottom Wall 15 is likewise made up of layers or thicknesses of fiber-board and the i lower edges of the side walls 13 may be rab,l

beted at 26 to receive the adjacent ends ofI the bottom 15. The lower edge of the rear wall 12 may besimilarlyrabbeted to receive `the adjacent edge of the bottom Wall 15 and the joints along thebottom maybe secured by casein cement or glue yor other -suitable cementitious water proof substance.

The ber board or insulating walls thus form the structural part ofthe refri erator. They are joined directly together an are, in'

` Fig. 5.

"anchoring or bonding means for the the side wall, is a side piece 28 which ma be of wood. Mounted in' the top of the re rigerator is a rectangular frame comprising frainememhers 28 and 30 joined attheir ends by suit-able frame members and detiningan opening in the top wall 14 for receiving the removable refrigerating unit, shown in dotted lines at 32. This opening 34 is shown and described as formed through the top wall, but it is to be understood that it maybe formed through the rear, side, bottom or otherwise through the walls of the refrigerator. The refrigerating unit is asselnbled upon a panel or wall section 35, which, when the refrigerating unit is in place, closes the opening 34l through the wall of the refrigerator.

Tfhe bottom may have a wood frame composed of side pieces 36 joined at front and rear by suitable frame members of similar construction. The side wall 13 on the latch side of the door, has a jamb member 38 which may be of wood similarly cemented in the rabbeted end 39 of the wall 13, as shown in The opposite side wall may have a similar frame piece which may be joined to the frame piece 38 by top and bottom frame l members of suitable or similar construction. Substantially the entire outer surface of the insulating wall construction may be covered with Wire mesh or metal lathe. Metalfabric, such as a suitable wire mesh, is prefer-- able, as shown at 40, and it may be stretched tightly about the" outer surface of the liber board and tacked 'or secured, asat 42, tothe side pieces 28, and 36, and to the jamb member 38 and hinge piece, where employed.`- It may be attached to the fiber wall or simply laid on withl the attaching means omitted. This providesl an effective tension tie around `the entirebox and, in addition, provides an coating 43.

For the outside coating 43 I preferably employ a magnesite cement, although any suitable Waterproof material .may be employed. This cement is non-metallic and it may be applied in plastic condition. The coating 43 covers substantially the entire wall construction, being applied over the fiber boards 16 and wire mesh and over the edges of the opening, door and base pieces. The wire mesh 40 bonds the coating firmly to the insulating structure and the coating hermetically seals the outside of the refrigerator. The bottom 14 may also be 'provided with a relatively outside thin' sheet metal bottom 100 between which and the bottom fiber board wallI 25, a suitable incassa be interposed. The covering 43 may comprise a relatively rough inside coat and a liner outside coat which may be colored or finished to suit the customer. The corners of the fiber boardi construction are preferably removed at e6.'

The inside of the box lis provided witha non-metallic Waterproof lining 50. l find that casein glue or cement, mixed with an inert material, such as Whiting, to give it body, is suitable for this purpose, but the particular material used for this purpose may, of

course, be varied. Just as the outside matcrial provides a monolithic coating, this inside material provides a monolithic lining which may be applied in plastic form and hermetically seals the interior of the refrigerator. The particular lining material referred to may be mixed with Water to bring, it to the desired plastic condition for application. A

solid homogeneous insulating Wall construcl 'tion liermeticallyA sealed inside and outside, is

thus provided. The hermetically sealing against moisture prevents any tendency to Warp or get out of shape and there are no joints for moisture to enter and open.. The door 8 may be similarly made up of layers ory thicknesses of liber or insulating board 60 lined inside at 62 and coated outside at 63. The edges of the fiber board structure of the door 8 are rabbeted at 65 to'receive the edge or frame members 68 `which may be of woodand which may be cemented thereturned back or beaded at 7 5 and interlocked Aliti With the adjacent edge of the coating 63, the metal edge thus reenforcing the edge of the door coating and the door coating at the same time reent'orcing the metal strip. i

rl`he Wall construction may be made up and coated inside before assembly, providing a standardized wall' construction that maybe cut and assembled to suit any requirements.

V/ ithin the box the refrigerator has a drip an 86 underl 'in the cool'il t-82 f' p y g 11g e amen o *struction formed structurally of boarded the refrigerating unit When it is in place and an outstanding air bams 83 causes a circulation of airover and around the cooling element of the refrigeratingunit. v The refrigerator may be provided internally with'suit'- able shelves, as indicated in dotted lines at 85.

The insulating fiber board wall structure not only insulates but, in fact, forms the structural part of the refrigerator. The inside coating provides an inside Wearing surface and liermetically seals the inside and the outside coating provides an outside Wearing sur`r face and iinishes and hermetically seals the directly together and forming a outside. The Walls are all of solid lhorno-l geneous'insulating material construction and' thin shells, hollow formations and insulating fillings Without any strength or structural qualities are avoided.

The cover 90 with its ventilation openings 92 for the outside or exposed parts of the refri erating unit is shown in Figs 1 and 2.

he lining over the bottom of the inside is preferably magnesite cement or the like for Wearing qualities as Well as sealing the interior. v

l do not intend to be limited to the particular details shown or described.

l claim: y Y l. ln a refrigerator construction, a Wall having a permanent laminated core formed structurally voi a plurality of boarded Wall supporting layers of manufactured insulating boa-rds having their side surfaces secured directly together and forming a solid Wall supporting andinsulating core.

2. ln a refrigerator construction, a' wall having a permanent laminated core formed structurally of a plurality of boarded Wall supporting layers ofy prepared insulating material and binding means disposed in layers between thecore laminations and binding said laminations Withtlier side surfaces solid structural and insulating Wall'.

3. ln a refrigerator construction., a Wall having a permanent laminated core formed structurally of a plurality of boarded Wall supporting layers of insulating boards with their side surfaces secured direety together and forming a solid structural and insulating y Wall supporting core and a coating covering the surface of said core. y a. ln a refrigerator construction, a solid Wall having a permanent Wall supporting and laminated core formed structurally and wholly of boarded b agasse.

5. ln refrigerator construction, a Wall having a core formed structurally of a plui ralityiof boards ofprepared insulating material having their side surfaces secured directly together and forming a solid structural and insulating core and cement coatings covering the inner and outer surfaces of said core and supported thereby.

6. ln a refrigerator, a permanent Wall confibrous I insulating material self-supporting and of a strength to support a cement coating,

said boarded fibrousinsulating Wall' having an opening, Wood edge pieces a. ong-the edges of said opening andl permanently joined to i lid material and vvover the adjacent edges of said ed e pieces and liermetically sealing the Wall.

ln a refrigerator, a permanent 'Wall construction formed structurally of boarded is@A 4- 'meaeee A,fibrous insulating material, eelt-supporting and of a strength to support a. cement coating, Wood edge pieces permanently joined to and supported oy said boarded insulating mate- 5 rial, and a Waterproof cement coating applied over and supported. by said .boarded insulating material and applied over 'the adjacent y edges of said edge p1eces.

8. In a. refrigerator, a permanent Wall conm struction formed structurally of boarded ibrous insulating material self-supporting and of a strength to support a cement coating, Wood pieces joined to and supported by said boarded insulating material, metal fabric laid over the surface of said boarded insulating material over the insulating material, and a waterproof cement coating applied to and supported by said boarded insulating material over said metal fabric.

9. Ina refrigerator, structural Walls formed permanently of boarded lamination/5 of self-supporting heat insulating fiber board with the laminations secured directly together to form a solid, fibrous self-supporting Wall structure, an insulating Waterproof cement ap lied externally to said. Walls and supported thereby and forming the exterior surface and a Waterproof non-metallic coating covering 'the inner suraceo'f said walls and supported thereby.

l0. In a refrigerator construction, a wall having au core ormedstructurally of a plurality of layers of insulating board and a cementitious binder joining said layers disi; rectly together into a solid structural insulating and; wall supporting core.

11. In a refrigerator construction, top, bottom and side Walls each having a lamlnatedl core formed structurally and Wholly of boards 40 of prepared insulatingmaterial secured directly together and 'forming a solid structural and lnsulating core and the adjacent margins of said walls being structurally joined directly together.

45, 12. In a refrigerator construction, top,bot

tom and vside walls each having a laminated core form'structurally and wholly of layers of prepared insulating material, the layers of the core of eaclx wall heini joined directly together by e cementitious inder with the ad] acent margins 'of the core of each wall and joined directly together, and coatings cover- 1n the inner and outer surfaces of said core. n witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 1st day of December, 1925.

. ALBERT H. MRRELL. 

